amental to a woman’s life and future, and even her pursuit of happiness. The court ruled that the state could not interfere with the abortion decision of a woman unless it had compelling reason for regulation. The only right the fetus now had was when it became viable, usually at the beginning of the last trimester of pregnancy. And even at this stage the woman now had the right to abortion if it were necessary to preserve her life or health. The Supreme Court also heard the case of Doe v Bolton in which the Supreme Court overturned a Georgia law regulating abortion. The law prohibited abortions except when necessary to preserve a woman’s life or health or in instances of abnormalities or rape. The law also required that all abortions be performed in accredited hospitals and that a hospital committee and two doctors including the woman’s own doctor give approval. The Court found this Georgia law unconstitutional because it imposed too many restrictions and interfered with a woman’s right to choose the termination of her pregnancy. As well as Roe v Wade this case gave the woman the rights she deserved under the constitution of the United States- the right to choose, and choosing on the topic of reproduction is highly important because of the repercussions that it has on life and society. Bigelow v Virginia was another important case concerning the issue of abortion. In this case the Supreme Court ruled that states could not ban advertising by abortion clinics. Such bans violate the First Amendments guarantees of freedom of speech and freedom of the press. This gave the woman the right to know, and explore her options in the matter of abortion. In the landmark case of Bellotti v Baird the plaintiffs challenged a Massachusetts statute requiring women under the age of 18 to obtain parental or judicial consent prior to an abortion. The Supreme Court found this statute unconstitutional because it gave eith...
